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Fenbrook Academy #1.5
Losing My Balance
This book is available from the author's website: http://helenanewbury.com/about/
Clarissa. Rich girl. Natasha's closest friend. Known for being the one who's always elegantly dressed, perfectly made up and absolutely, categorically *in control*.
Everyone knows the sort of person she'll wind up with: an investment banker in a sharp suit. They'll drive matching BMWs and do weekends in the Hamptons.
Except...what if that isn't what she needs at all? What if she's sick of being responsible and organized and in control?
What if what she really needs is to lose control completely, with the sort of man who doesn't give a f*** about fashion or money or manners? A six-foot-something, muscled biker with a bad attitude and a dominant streak a mile wide, for example?
Clarissa's about to lose her balance...and fall *hard*.
This 30,000 word novella tells the story of Neil and Clarissa.
Clarissa. Rich girl. Natasha's closest friend. Known for being the one who's always elegantly dressed, perfectly made up and absolutely, categorically *in control*.
Everyone knows the sort of person she'll wind up with: an investment banker in a sharp suit. They'll drive matching BMWs and do weekends in the Hamptons.
Except...what if that isn't what she needs at all? What if she's sick of being responsible and organized and in control?
What if what she really needs is to lose control completely, with the sort of man who doesn't give a f*** about fashion or money or manners? A six-foot-something, muscled biker with a bad attitude and a dominant streak a mile wide, for example?
Clarissa's about to lose her balance...and fall *hard*.
This 30,000 word novella tells the story of Neil and Clarissa.
97 pages, ebook
First published December 21, 2013
2 people are currently reading
270 people want to read
About the author
Helena Newbury
30 books1,341 followersWant to contact me? helenanewburyauthor@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 25, 2019
A little long winded at times for my taste but I enjoyed this. It helps to fill in some of the blanks about these two from their brief appearances in the first book. Plenty of sexy times. Definitely best to read immediately after Dance For Me .
November 26, 2015
3 D/s Stars
Clarissa Frossberg-West is Natasha best friend and roommate from Dance For Me . She knows that Natasha cuts, but is powerless to do anything about it. At first she was scared that her cutting would lead to suicide, but now she knows that's not the case, she's not as vigilant as she was. That doesn't mean she's going to let her go off to some millionaire's mansion by herself.
Clarissa comes from money, although she doesn't flaunt it with her friends.
While waiting for Natasha to dance for Darrell the first time, Darrell's best friend Neil Eliasson walks in...
These two couldn't be more different. Clarissa thinks he's some hippy, drop-out until she finds out that's not the case. In fact he's close to getting his Phd. And revels in showing off his credentials when people, especially cops, try to harass him.
Soon these two can't keep their hands off each other.
Do these two have any more in common other than sex? Will that be enough to build on? Will Neil let Clarissa further into his world?
I didn't love this one, although the Dom/sub of it was was hot. I just didn't love Clarissa's whining. There was still a lot of Darrell and Natasha, so that's whey I gave it the three stars I did.
But don't let this deter you from the rest of the series. This is an anomaly. The rest of the series is pretty spectacular.
Clarissa Frossberg-West is Natasha best friend and roommate from Dance For Me . She knows that Natasha cuts, but is powerless to do anything about it. At first she was scared that her cutting would lead to suicide, but now she knows that's not the case, she's not as vigilant as she was. That doesn't mean she's going to let her go off to some millionaire's mansion by herself.
Clarissa comes from money, although she doesn't flaunt it with her friends.
While waiting for Natasha to dance for Darrell the first time, Darrell's best friend Neil Eliasson walks in...
... he looked like a Hell's Angel, so I assumed he broke into the house. ~ Clarissa
These two couldn't be more different. Clarissa thinks he's some hippy, drop-out until she finds out that's not the case. In fact he's close to getting his Phd. And revels in showing off his credentials when people, especially cops, try to harass him.
Soon these two can't keep their hands off each other.
Do these two have any more in common other than sex? Will that be enough to build on? Will Neil let Clarissa further into his world?
I didn't love this one, although the Dom/sub of it was was hot. I just didn't love Clarissa's whining. There was still a lot of Darrell and Natasha, so that's whey I gave it the three stars I did.
But don't let this deter you from the rest of the series. This is an anomaly. The rest of the series is pretty spectacular.
January 24, 2015
Well written, well-edited companion book to Dance for Me. Could be read as a stand-alone, but I recommend reading book one first. One tiny flaw is the author occasionally drops British-English vocabulary (treacle vs molasses, vest vs sweater,) but the characters are all American and based in NY.
If you liked book one, this is a must-read addition to the series with the events of book one from the best friends’ perspective. It’s not strictly a rehash of book one – it’s the parts of this couple’s story that we only got some glimpses of in book one, including this main character’s introduction to some mild BDSM. As a novella, it’s shorter than the other books, but because the first two stories share the same timeline, there is a fair amount of retelling book one through a new lens. I wish maybe there’d been some overlap and then the story had continued beyond the end of book one to make this a deeper telling of this couple’s story – because I think they have a really interesting story. At the end of this book, there are open questions about both characters.
Regardless of the redundant information, I strongly recommend this (free!) book for fans of the series.
If you liked book one, this is a must-read addition to the series with the events of book one from the best friends’ perspective. It’s not strictly a rehash of book one – it’s the parts of this couple’s story that we only got some glimpses of in book one, including this main character’s introduction to some mild BDSM. As a novella, it’s shorter than the other books, but because the first two stories share the same timeline, there is a fair amount of retelling book one through a new lens. I wish maybe there’d been some overlap and then the story had continued beyond the end of book one to make this a deeper telling of this couple’s story – because I think they have a really interesting story. At the end of this book, there are open questions about both characters.
Regardless of the redundant information, I strongly recommend this (free!) book for fans of the series.
July 20, 2017
I love Helena, writing style, a quick read for me. I did try to find this book on Amazon, but no luck there. I find Amazon to be so confusing to review and such, easily found it on Goodreads???!!!? ... I guess I will have to go do some more searching. Loved it.
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August 4, 2021I read a series by this author and then found this as well. I went into with no expectations but I didn’t expect it to be so much about sex, because honestly other than that, not much happened. don’t get me wrong, I’m no prude but there wasn’t enough of a plot, or problem/climax and resolution for me
March 19, 2021
This story was barley ok. I didn't really care for any of the characters.
September 7, 2017
This is my most favourite couple in this series. However, it is really a shame that their story never ever fully developed.
November 26, 2015
2.5 stars
I first met Clarissa and Neil in book 2, Karen and Connor's story. I'm more interested with them than Nat and Darrell's story which is book 1 in the series which I haven't read. I like reading series in chronological order, but somehow in Fenbrook Academy, Clarissa and Neil catch my attention more than Nat and Darrell. And after reading them in book 3, I'm more than eager to know how they met for the first time.
But I'm a bit disappointed. I cannot connect with them instantly. And I think there is only a few things that interesting from their novella. The attraction felt so sudden and instant, the relationship also felt in a rush and the ending is kinda unclear, which is understandable, though, since their story continues throughout book 2 and 3.
Maybe it's because it's a novella it felt like there is no room to develop both for the story and the characters. But I think it's because Clarissa isn't only tells her story, but also Nat's at the same time. If she focus on her and Neil's story, without constantly tells me about Nat and Darrell's story, I think she'll have more room to show me their relationship. And I can focus on theirs too.
I first met Clarissa and Neil in book 2, Karen and Connor's story. I'm more interested with them than Nat and Darrell's story which is book 1 in the series which I haven't read. I like reading series in chronological order, but somehow in Fenbrook Academy, Clarissa and Neil catch my attention more than Nat and Darrell. And after reading them in book 3, I'm more than eager to know how they met for the first time.
But I'm a bit disappointed. I cannot connect with them instantly. And I think there is only a few things that interesting from their novella. The attraction felt so sudden and instant, the relationship also felt in a rush and the ending is kinda unclear, which is understandable, though, since their story continues throughout book 2 and 3.
Maybe it's because it's a novella it felt like there is no room to develop both for the story and the characters. But I think it's because Clarissa isn't only tells her story, but also Nat's at the same time. If she focus on her and Neil's story, without constantly tells me about Nat and Darrell's story, I think she'll have more room to show me their relationship. And I can focus on theirs too.
February 10, 2016
I was dying for a Clarissa and Neil book while reading In Harmony, so I was excited to learn about this novella. Losing My Balance takes place during Dance For Me, so it covers that heated first meeting and their early relationship. While I liked this peek into Clarissa and Neil, I do think I would have liked it more if it were set later. Or if it had been a full length book.
Losing My Balance is a bit jumpy in terms of time passing. It also kind of awkwardly fills readers in on the events on the first book, but I do recommend reading it first. I was also expecting more BDSM elements, which I know would have been there if this novella had taken place later, based on what Karen discovered in her book. It's still a good read, and I'd recommend it to fans of the series. But on its own, it was missing some things for me. Clarissa and Neil likely would have been my favorite couple if they had gotten equal page time.
Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.
Losing My Balance is a bit jumpy in terms of time passing. It also kind of awkwardly fills readers in on the events on the first book, but I do recommend reading it first. I was also expecting more BDSM elements, which I know would have been there if this novella had taken place later, based on what Karen discovered in her book. It's still a good read, and I'd recommend it to fans of the series. But on its own, it was missing some things for me. Clarissa and Neil likely would have been my favorite couple if they had gotten equal page time.
Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.
September 20, 2015
I loved this quick read. I'd missed the characters from Dance For Me, so it was nice to see them again in this, and to learn more about Clarissa and Neil's relationship. It was intense and I love a bad boy with a weakness for his woman. You don't have to read Dance For Me to read this, but there are plenty of references you won't understand or you'll want to know more about if you haven't read it. But that was great, too, so I highly recommend it!!
July 14, 2014
This book was a satisfactory read for me. I liked how it didn't go into much detail on all the different aspects in Dance for Me and mainly kept the focus on what it should have; which was Neil and Clarissa. Overall, I loved reading from both of the characters' perspectives and understanding their thought processes! Hopefully there'll be a book on Jasmine soon? :)
April 24, 2014
Thank you for sending me "Losing my Balance" by email
I absolutely love this series, i've been waiting from the beginning they met at the first series at Darrell house
i hope there's a continuation of their story for the next book
I absolutely love this series, i've been waiting from the beginning they met at the first series at Darrell house
i hope there's a continuation of their story for the next book
August 3, 2015
I would give it 5 stars, but it was too short! I had already read the first book in the Fenbrook Academy series, Dance for Me, so I was familiar with the characters. I hope to see more of these characters in another book.
January 24, 2015
Great story, only wish it was longer as if love to find out more about Neil and what secrets he's keeping!!
April 8, 2015
Wow, really enjoyed the read. I am not giving the story away though, so you'll have to read it yourself.
April 3, 2014
Steamy! I need to know more about Neil!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews